Stock-protecting store and display box



(I io Model.)

' L. F. BOWMAN.

STOOK PROTECTING STORE AND'DISPLAY B'OYX.

No. 561,085. Patented June 2, 1896.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS F. BOYVMAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STOCK-PROTECTING STORE AND DISPLAY BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,085, dated June 2, 1896.

Application filed September 21, 1895. serial No. 563,178- (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS F. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, I-Iamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Stock- Protecting Store and Display Box; and I do declare the following .to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference-n umerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to store fixtures and furniture, and particularly to those parts thereof which form the receptacles for goods, wares, or any articles of merchandise, andin which such objects are contained while placed on sale in stores and places relating to mercantile business.

One of the connections in which my invention may be used with particular advantage is with dry-goods stores and stores where fabrics or articles manufactured thereof are sold. Such articles are usually contained in boxes, generally of pasteboard, which rest in rows or stacks upon shelves behind the counters. As the present procedure prevails after a patron has signified his wishes one or more of these boxes are taken from the shelves to the counters and opened for inspection and selection. No matter whether a sale is made or not, the handling of articles remaining unsold cannot be prevented, and this handling will be repeated every time a boxis opened for the pur-' pose of showing goods. While perhaps not all articles are touched at one opening, it is I more than likely that different ones will be taken out at a later opening, so that in time most all the contents will have been handled more or less. With delicate articles or slowselling ones this exposure forms a great objection, because it more or less soils them, causes them to lose their shape, color, gloss, or becoming tarnished, according to the character of the merchandise, all of which impairs their salability and reduces their value.

The general aim of my invention is therefore to overcome these objections, and such is accomplished by a construction which is explained in the following description, together with its parts and manner of manipulation, the whole being also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, in a perspective View, shows my device complete and as it would appear While resting upon the shelves of a store. Fig. 2, in a similar view, shows its manipulation that is, opening for the purpose of showinga sample. Fig. 3, in a longitudinal section, shows it opened for the purpose of taking out stock sold. Fig. 4 shows in adetail View one mode of construction.

The receptacles or boxes used for the purposes here in view are usually of oblong shape and placed endwise with one end exposed, such end being generally provided with a la bel indicating the character of the contents. The top is in most cases removable and forms the means of access. My improved box is divided longitudinally by a partition 6 into two compartments 7 and 8, of which the first nearest the outer end is smaller, being only intended to contain a sample, the partition being placed according to the size of the latter, while the rear or, larger compartment holds the stock from which the selling is done. The front end of the box is open and the front compartment '7 is occupied by a rectangular swinging drawer, the walls 9 and 10 of which are connected at right angles, in which position they are preferably sustained by a suit-' able connecting member like side walls 11 11. The corner produced by the meeting of walls 9 and 10 is placed even with the lower front edge of the box and connected thereat by a hinge 12, the whole fitting closely and occupying fully the first compartment 7 of the box. For the purpose of swinging it out a knob or flaps 13 are provided at the upper edge of wall 9, while stops 14 prevent it from being pulled out beyond a position, as shown in Fig. 2. As has been indicated, the sample occupies compartment 7that is, it rests upon wall 10 of the drawer and it may be gotten by simply pulling the latter out to a position as shown in Fig. 2. As will be readily seen, it is not necessary to take the whole box down to show the goods, such being done by the sample only taken from the box. WVhether it suits'or not the unnecessary handling of the stock and the injurious effects thereof are obviated. If it does not suit, the labor of taking down boxes is at least saved, and if the sample does suit it may be sold at once. If a piece from the stock behind is preferred, then only does it become necessary to take the box down; but no further handling is necessary, nor will any other pieces be touched, except the first one taken hold of, which is immediately sold to the customer, it being of course understood that the stock corresponds with the sample in front of the same box. Access for such purpose to the interior of the rear part of the box is had by lifting a cover 15, which may be loose, but is preferably hinged bya hinge 16 to the upper edge of partition 6. The top of compartment 7 is permanently closed.

In order to still further simplify matters, it is my intention to make wall 9 of the samplecontaining drawer transparent-that is, of glassso that in many cases samples may be suiiieientlyinspected without even requiring the sample-compartment to be opened.

Size of boxes, material, and proportionate relation of the sizes of compartments 7 and 8 depend of course on the size and character of the merchandise. For heavy wares, metal goods, or jewelry sheet metal is perhaps the preferable material, while for fabrics and dry goods wood and pasteboard are sufficient.

Inasmuch as it is probable that these boxes will be most extensively used in connection with this last-named class of merchandise, I have decided to use the last-mentioned material as being entirely sufficient for the purpose, and I will proceed now to describe the preferred form of construction used in connection therewith. The outer parts of the box, as well as partition (5, wherever connections are formed at corners or edges, are joined by muslin strips secured by an adhe' sive substance. The lower edge of wall 10 is turned to form a flange 17. Similar flanges, numbered 18 and 19, are provided on walls 11, of which flange 18 is pasted against the side edge of wall 10, while one end of flange '19 connects to the adjacent end of flange 17. By reason of thelimited size of the upper edge or part of wall 9, in case the same is made of glass, such part is best made of a strip of wood 20 passing from one wall 11 to the other one. The pane of glass is laid against the outside of this strip, as well as flanges 17 and 19, and secured in place by strips 21, of paper or muslin. These strips are pasted on in a position to be only partly connected to the flanges and partly overlapping the edges of the glass. Hinge 12 of the swinging drawer, as well as hinge 16 of top 15, is also made of muslin strips and pasted 011. Stops 14; may

be little blocks of wood or pasteboard secured in posit-ion in the same manner.

After thus finished the whole box may be covered with paper colored in imitation of wood or otherwise.

As willbe seen,for inspection of goods only, this device saves the moving of boxes, while in all cases the stock is protected against unnecessary handling.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. A stock and display box for the purpose described, being divided by partition 6 in two compartments, one behind the other, the first being smaller and forming the display section, the other being larger and forming the storage section, the front end of the box and its top back of partition 6, being removed to give access to the two sections, a drawer consisting of two parts 9 and 10 secured at right angles to each other and secured to the lower edge of the open front end of the box on which edge said drawer may be turned to be either within or without the open front end of the box, and which end it closes when within.

2. A stock and display box for the purpose described, being divided by a partition 6 in two compartments, one behind the other, the first being smaller and forming the display section, the other being larger and forming the storage section, the front end of the box and its top back of partition 6, being removed to give access to the two sections, a drawer consisting of two parts 9 and 10 secured at right angles to each other and secured to the lower edge of the open front end of the box 011 which edge said drawer may be turn ed to be either within or without the open front end of the box, which end it closes when within by part 9, which part is of glass to permit the contents to be inspected.

3. A stock and display box for the purpose described, made substantially of pasteboard, a partition 6, whereby it is divided in two parts 7 and S, the end of part 7 and the top of part 8 being open, a cover 15 for the latter, being secured by a muslin hinge, a drawer secured to the lower edge of the open end of part 7, a muslin hinge forming the connecting medium, said drawer consisting of the pasteboard part 10, having flange 17, side pieces 11, having flanges 18 and 19 whereby they are secured to part 10, a wooden strip 20 passing between and connecting the side pieces 11 and a glass plate secured against the outside of strip 20 and flanges 17, 1.), 19 by strips 21.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS F. BOIVMAN.

Witnesses:

O. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE. 

